Improvement in thill-couplings



22.1 l I w. c. FOSTER.

Improven ent in Thill Coupling.

Patented Aug. 29,1871.

,hren/mr,

UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. FOSTER, OF DANSVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN THlLL-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,600, dated August 29, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. FOSTER, of Dansville, in the county of Livingston and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ThilLO ouplin gs 5 and do hereby declare that the toll owin g is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference bein g ha d to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 represents the whole device with the thill-iron in place and locked; Fig. 2, a separate vieT 0I' the device unlocked with the thill-iron removed, Fig. 3, a separate view of the thill-iron; and Fig. 4, a vertical cross-section on the line a' :z: of Fig. l.

Like letters of like kinds denote corresponding parts in each figure.

The nature of my invention relates to contrivances for readily locking in place and unlocking thill-irons for carriages; and consists in a rotating hood, which, being revolved in one direction, releases the arm of the thill-iron from an India-rubber-lined slot, in which it Works, and, bein grevolved in the other direction, locks and holds said arm secure in said slot.

In the drawing, Arepresents a cylindrical piece of suitable metal, provided upon its upper face,

near one end, with a semi-cylindrical slot, a, having an India-rubber lining, b. To the under side ofthe piece A a suitable metallic strap, B, is secured, one end of which is attached to the axle of the carriage in the usual manner. Upon the slotted end of the piece A the hood C is placed, Which hood is provided with a cylindrical opening, e, of such size as permits it to slip over and revolve around the end of the piece A. This hood is also provided with a rectangular ear, d, of such size that When the hood is in position the ear extends nearly the Whole horizont-al length ot' the slot a., leaving vonly room for the shank of the thill-iron to play by its end, and has suicient Width to cover said slot from side to side. The central under side of this ear is lined with India rubber e, contained in asuitable slot. The hood is also provided with a lever or handle, f, by which it may be turned, and is secured in place upon the piece A, so that it may revolve thereon by suitable means. The thill-iron D is provided with an arm, g, at right angles to its shank 7L, which arm is of a length and size to fit within and turn in the slot a.

In the opera-tion of my device, the hood being turned so as to uncover the slot, the thill-iron is inserted therein and the hood turned so that its ear covers the arm ofthe thill-iron and holds it securely in place. The thill-iron is readily removed by turning the ear back and away from the slot. When the thill-iron is locked in place the lever hangs down and tends by its Weight to prevent the hood from turning from the motion of the carriage. The India-rubber packing in the slot and in the ear is for the purpose of preventing rattling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein isrlhe hereinbefore-described thill-coupling pro vided with the hood G, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this lst day of August,

WILLIAM G. FOSTER.

Witnesses J AIvrEs FAULIINEE, J r., JNO. C. WHITEHEAD. 

